walked memphis, the ‘nine’ of Barça, disappeared. Anchored on the bench dragged by the force of the winter market, overshadowed by the goals of aubameyangcornered by the speed of Adama Traore and the blind faith that Xavi has in Ferran Torres, together with the resurgence of Dembele.
It was memphis the fifth option of the attack. Sometimes, until the sixth, beaten as the Dutchman was by various physical problems, because the head of Luuk de Jong It was like a treasure for the Barça coach.
The team entered an unexpected decline, turning off, little by little, also taking the January signings ahead. And Memphis, who played everything from August to December (in the League he completed 90 minutes in the first 16 days), has been slow to find his place.
He has rebelled, willing to continue at the Camp Nou (contract ends in 2023) if it is really important, something that has not been, for example, in the last five months.
He took advantage, yes, of the final half hour in the heavy defeat against Rayo to vindicate himself after assisting from the Anoeta bench (he did not play a minute) to the long-suffering Barça victory. And in a week he has taken off his permanent substitute tracksuit.
But, as revealed Xavi, took even more advantage of the clean week, without games and with a barbecue included, to find arguments for reaction after chaining three consecutive defeats in the League. And with his goal against Mallorca, he paved the way for a necessary victory to continue in second place.
When Koeman was there, Memphis was number nine. Or false nine. When Xavi arrived, more of the same. until he showed up aubameyang in January to remove his seat, while he was recovering from his Achilles tendon problems, coupled with another muscle injury.
“He has played because he has trained very well. Perhaps, another player in his position, being important where he has gone, would have lowered his arms, would have surrendered… “
Xavi, Barça coach
He had supported Barça at the beginning. There were no more forwards. Then he was hardly seen because the work of Mateu Germany in the offices (four new players arrived in a month) it was reflected on the pitch, climbing Barça from ninth to second place in the League. Memphis had lost its place.
“He has played because he has trained very well. Perhaps, another player in his position, being important where he has gone, would have lowered his arms, would have surrendered…”, argued Xavi to justify the choice of the Dutchman completing the attack against Majorca with Fernando Torreslocated in his preferred far right position, and aubameyang.
Dembele, with tonsillitis since last Saturday, he was initially on the bench. “He has had a fantastic week in training. That’s why he’s a starter. We want this type of player, with this attitude, capable of making a difference,” he added. Xavi.
Two Memphis
There are two Memphis. In the first 21 games, the former Lyon striker started in all of them. In the remaining 28 he has only been on three occasions, missing 14 of them due to injury.
“He has a goal, he goes into space well and associates well. He played a great game and I’m happy for him”, confessed Xavi, who did not want to specify, however, if the Dutchman will be part of his sports project next season. “This is not the time to think about the future but about the four important ones that we have left,” the coach defended himself.
It remains to be seen, furthermore, if Memphis wants to fulfill the second and last year of his remaining contract with Barça, given that it has a powerful market of possible destinations, especially in the Premier League.
“Yes it is true that in many moments I have been unfair with him because he has not had many minutes. If he performs like this, he should play”
Xavi, Barça coach
“Yes, it is true that in many moments I have been unfair to him because he has not had many minutes,” acknowledged the coach. “He came back from injury, then he relapsed, but he has had a fantastic week of training. If he performs like this, he should play,” Xavi said.
If Memphis plays, there’s a spare forward. Be aubameyang, Ferran either Dembele. If everything were measured in statistical terms there would be no doubts. The Dutchman, despite the fact that he has barely played in the second part of the season, has scored 11 goals in 23 games and is Barça’s Pichichi in the League.
Aubameyang, with nine goals, is the second highest league scorer, followed by Luuk de Jong (6), Ferran Torres (4), Ansu Fati (3), Braithwaite (2) and Dembélé (1)
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Behind the former Lyon player appears aubameyang, who is, however, much more effective with nine goals in 13 league games. The third highest achiever is Luuk de Jong (6 in 19), followed by Fernando Torres (4 in 14), then comes Ansu Fati (3 in 6), occupying the fifth place the disappeared Braithwaite (2 goals in 4 games), followed by Dembele (1 in 18) and adamawho has not scored any in his nine appearances.
memphis he has made a place for himself without knowing yet what will become of him in a couple of months. He came to the Camp Nou for free, with a pandemic salary, wanting to own his destiny, so he signed for only two seasons. He ends in 2023 and Barça needs money. While the club decides, he rebels.